Hi Eddy--<br><br>This is all work in progress that is being documented and finalized by the Foundation as quickly as the Board can make it happen. Your point concerning balance in the representation of the community is key for everyone and that is exactly why: a) the larger number of members of the board are drawn from the community overall which consists, as you know, of individuals, small and medium size companies as well as large and very large organizations. It is also why the Foundation is attempting to create the kinds of policies, procedures, and practices that will ensure the community overall has the chance to guide and inform the work and the innovative efforts of the community in general and the specifications work in particular. <br>
<br>As far as the point you make concerning the affiliations of the community board members, please know that the chief operating principle of the Foundation and the Board is to operate to the greatest extent possible in a consensus mode. This is to ensure that the various different interests are kept in a balanced state with no favoritism shown. It is my experience that competitors who work together on a non-profit organization are scrupulously keen to make certain the decisions of the board are not unfairly or unduly tipped in any direction. So, to my mind, it is a pretty well known and well regarded practice for maintaining a solid base of fair and unbiased policies. It's not perfect, perhaps, but it is usually very, very good for a new fledgling organization.<br>
<br>cheers,<br>-bill<br><br><br><div class="gmail_quote">On Feb 8, 2008 8:08 PM, Eddy Nigg (StartCom Ltd.) <<a href="mailto:eddy_nigg@startcom.org">eddy_nigg@startcom.org</a>> wrote:<br><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; padding-left: 1ex;">
<div bgcolor="#ffffff" text="#000000">Is there some documentation on this or is it just an unspoken rule?
What about balancing the corporate members a little bit with smaller
organizations and individuals? I'd view this to be at least an
interesting thought, to balance the steering role even further and
guaranty a wider representation. Also most community board members are
affiliated with various interested parties too, so this perhaps this
isn't the most balanced setup anyway? Just some food for thoughts from
me...<div><div></div><div class="Wj3C7c"><br>
<blockquote type="cite">
<div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>-- Dick</div>
<div><br>
<div>
<div>On 8-Feb-08, at 6:07 PM, Eddy Nigg (StartCom Ltd.) wrote:</div>
<br>
<blockquote type="cite"> Reading yet another nice article at <a href="http://www.internetnews.com/security/article.php/3726771/OpenID+Gets+Star+Power.htm" target="_blank">http://www.internetnews.com/security/article.php/3726771/OpenID+Gets+Star+Power.htm</a>
I picked up the following:<br>
<br>
"Washburn said that although the foundation will continue recruiting
companies of all sizes to support the OpenID standard, it is not likely
to add any more board members."<br>
<br>
Why is that? Just a week ago I was visiting the page at <a href="http://openid.net/foundation/join/" target="_blank">http://openid.net/foundation/join/</a>
which invites to join the foundation, from student up to the kind of
cooperations which just joined? A week ago there was a big emptiness at
the "Corporate Board Members" section...<br>
<br>
Can somebody clarify what the official position is?<br>
<br>
<div>-- <br>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td colspan="2">Regards </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="2"> </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Signer: </td>
<td>Eddy Nigg, <a href="http://www.startcom.org" target="_blank">StartCom Ltd.</a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Jabber: </td>
<td><a>startcom@startcom.org</a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Blog: </td>
<td><a href="http://blog.startcom.org" target="_blank">Join
the Revolution!</a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Phone: </td>
<td>+1.213.341.0390</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="2"> </td>
</tr>
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</blockquote>
</div>
<br>
</div>
</div>
</blockquote>
<br>
<div>-- <br>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td colspan="2">Regards </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="2"> </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Signer: </td>
<td>Eddy Nigg, <a href="http://www.startcom.org" target="_blank">StartCom Ltd.</a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Jabber: </td>
<td><a>startcom@startcom.org</a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Blog: </td>
<td><a href="http://blog.startcom.org" target="_blank">Join the Revolution!</a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Phone: </td>
<td>+1.213.341.0390</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="2"> </td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</div>
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